Machine for feeding together the marginal portions of thin flexible fabric or other sheet material.



I E. E. WINKLEY. MACHIINE FOR FEEDING TOGETHER'THE MARGINAL PORTIONS OF' THINFLEXIBLIE FABRIC OR OTHER SHEET MATERIAL.

APPLICA'IION FILED AUGH'I- IBI O.

E.-E. WINKLEY. L MACHINE FOR FEEDING TOGETHER THE MARGINAL PORTIONS 0F THIN FLEXIBLE FABRIC OR OTHER SHEET MA ERIAL.

I I I RRPLICATIOR F LED AUG.3. WW. I .1,158,763.- I Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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M4 f 1 m E. E. WINKLEY.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING TOGETHER THE MIIIIGIHAI PORTIONS 0F THIN FLEXIBLEFABRI'C- OR OTHER 'sH -ET MATERIAL.

- APPLICATION EIEED was. I9I0.'

1,1 58,763. Patented NO 2, 1915.

zey m- Q ZwgrzZZa UNITED s'raans earner union.

ERASTUS E. VIINKLEY, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING TOGETHER THE IVIARGINAL PORTIONS 0F THIN FLEXIBLE FABRIC OR OTHER SHEET MATERIAL.

Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

Application filed August 3, 1910. Serial No. 575,324.

To all zvhom it may concern Be it known that I, Enasrus E. XVINKLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lynn, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'hlarchines for Feeding Together the Marginal Portions of Thin Flexible Fabric or other Sheet Material; and I do hereby declare the following to he a full, clear, and exact description of the in vention, such as Will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention. relates to machines for feeding together the marginal portions'of thin flexible fabric, or other sheet material.

In making articles Where a plurality of pieces of sheet material are to be secured together and incorporated into the construction, it is desirable in some instances to place the sheets in a position so that their edges abut and secure them together by applying to the marginal portions of the sheets, over the meeting edges, a stay strip, or Welting. In other instances it is desirable to place the sheets in layers with their edges in aline-' ment, or, if a felledseam isto he used, With the marginal portion of one sheet projecting beyond the other. It is often desirable, also, to secure one sheet to another by overlapping their marginal portions. In all of the above referred to arrangements of the sheets and in others which will readily occur to those skilled in the arts to which this invention appertains, ;it is desirable that the proper relative position of the-edges of the sheets be accuratelypredetermined, and thereafter maintained throughout the securing operation.

The object of the present invention is to enablethiii flexible fabric, or other sheetmaterial; to; heproperly positioned for securing together the edges of the sheets in a desiredrelation vand thereafter held in such position While being secured, no matter What particular arrangement of the sheets is selected. ltis desirable that the work positioning devices be arranged to operate on the sheetsin advance ofthe securing means and that While theiwork positioning devices are operating at one point v the securing means are operating concurrently at another point on a portion of the work already positioned.

in accordance ivith this ohj the features of the invention may he generallydescribed as comprising gages for the edges of the sheets having a fixed relation to each other and to the mechanism or devices for fastening the sheets together, means for engaging the sheets and feeding their edges into engagement With the gages to place them in fastener receiving position, and preferably means to prevent the sheets from wrinkling or buckling as they are fed to the gages. Separate means may be employed to feed the Work through the machine, but this is not essential.

lfor convenience of'illustration the invention has been shownas applied to one of the Well known types of dry thread sewing machine but it should be distinctly understood that the invention, except as specifically recited in certain of the claims, is not limited to the use of a stitch to fasten the sheets togetherns the inventor contemplates the use of any convenient and appropriate fastening means after the edges of the sheets have been properly positioned for the securing foperation.

in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, which in its general construction and features 'is typical of a machine for obtaining the results referred to, ptheedge gages for the sheets are fixed relatively to the needle and in such relation to each other as to cause the edges of the sheets to be alined. A Work table is provided on which the sheets rest, and Woiilcpositioning presse-r feet above and below the table, one for each sheet, operate to cause the sheets to engage their respective edge gages. These feet operate through slots in protective plates lying in planes parallel to the surface of the Work i such contiguity thereto as to prevent their wrinkling, or buckling, as they are fed inward to the gages. While not essential, it is preferred that the Work-positioning presser iteet be ntihzed as Work feeding devices, and

when so utilized the protective plates may conveniently be arranged to assist in feeding the ork. in the illustratedembodiment of,

the invention this arrangement is used.'

These and other features of the invention, including certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will readily be un derstood those skilled in the art, will be further explained in the following description and then pointed out in the appended cla" lt ith these generally stated facts in View table and extendmg over the sheets in the aims and objects of the present invention will best be made clear from a description of the accompanying drawings showing one form of means for carrying it into practical effect, in which- 7 Figure 1 is a front elevation of a common form of dry thread'sewing machine having the present invention embodied therein, certain parts being shown in section; Fig. 2 is Fig. 1; Fig. '8 is a detail view of the feeding 1), carried by a needle bar operated'as usual the needle.

device; Fig. 9 is a detail view of the feed slide; Figs. 10, 10 and 10 are diagrammatic views of a modification of the present invention for uniting two pieces of fabric in a lap joint which will be hereinafter described; Figs. 11, 11 11 and 11 are s1m1lar views of the invention as adapted to unite two pieces of fabric by means of a welt,. which will be descrlbed; Figs. 12, 12 12 12 and 12 are similar views of .this invention as adapted to unite two pieces of fabr c by a felled seam, which will be described in detail.

The sewing machine shown in Fig. l may be'of any convenientfor'm having a Work table-1, an arm 2, an upper drivlng shaft 3 having a pulley 300 driven from a suitable source of power, and a lower shaft 4, such as, for example, the well known Wheeler &' WVilson single thread chain-stitch sewing machine. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention showing the present improvements, there are indicated a needle 5 (Fig.

by'the shaft 3 and a1 looping hook 6 .operatedthrough suitable connections from the.

shaft 4.-. A slide 7, one portion of which is flush withthe top of the work table,"is

mounted in ways on the table 1 and adapted to move in the line of the stitches. cally mounted in the slide is a bar 8 having on its upper end a plate 9' overlying the slide 7 and extending to the left of the pat of A similar bar 10, lik wise mounted in the slide, carriesa plate 11 over- Vertilying the plate 9, broth bars being held yieldmgly downward lars 13, 13.

The plate 9 has a gage or shoulder 14 forming an abutment for the edge o a lower piece of fabric 15, the upper plate 11 also having a gage or shoulder 16, in this case in vertical alinementwith the shoulder by springs 12, 12 and( col- "14,forming an abutment for the edge of an -upper fabric 17. The plate 11 has a slot 18 for the passage of the needle. A slot 19 in the plate 9.must extend from the rear edge.

.to the center, as the fabric '30 mounted in the arm nuts on said stud, urges above and below this plate will be united by a stitch which must pass from the slot to the rear with the feed of the cloth.

It is now desirable to provide means to place-the edges of the two fabrics in contact The presser foot 20 is carried by 'apresser foot slide 23 (Figs. 1 and 7) and slotted at its upper end to receive'a spring 24 which tends to force the'presser' foot downward and at certain times to cause it to engage the fabric 17 as shown in Fig. 4. The presser foot slide 23 has formed integral therewith, an arm 25 adapted to slide in ways in a block 26. A slide 27 is fixed to the block 26 tom of'the arm 2' to its length. Thus the presser foot 20 is capable of movement in three directions; vertically in the slide 23, laterally, by means of the arm 25 in its ways, and in theline of the stitches by means of the slide ,27 and surrounding a stud 25, having a seat one end'on a lug projecting from the block 26 and at the other against suitable check the arm 25, and perforce the-presser foot, to the right in Fig. 1. A lever ways 28. A spring-29,

one end bearing against the stud 30 and the rativerelation to a cam 33 on slotted at 36* for said pin. The other end of the lever 35 underlies-avertical plunger 37 (Fig. 6), mounted in'suitable ways on the arm 2. Projecting from'the plunger 37 is an arm 38having a cam roll adapted to cooperate with the cam 39 carried by the shaft A spring 40 extends from the lever 35 to the arm 2, keeping the cam roll on the arm 38 in contact with its cam39. It is now; apparent that rotation of the ca'm, 39 will acti through the plunger 37 to depressoneend, of the lever 35, elevating the other end and 1 the pin 36, thereby raisingthe presser foot from contact with the-fabric 17, as is best shown in Figs. 1, 6 and 7.

As has been stated, gage the fabric by means, in part, of the presser foot described above, in'a'dvance of it is desirable to enups 1 7 and engaged in ways. 28 formed on the bot- 1 A extending at right angles 106 31, pivoted at 32 to the arm 2, has

' of'whlch'extends below a pin 36 fixed to the l I 'presser foot 20, the presser foot slide being I the stitch forming means, to bring the edges into the-desired relation with one another shaft remaining the same.

of the fabric will determine the length of the stitch and will constitute the feed of the sewing machine as shown in the present design, although it is possible for a skilled mechanic to construct a similar machine in which there will be more than one operation of the fastening device for each operation of the cloth positioning devices. To this end there is provided the following means :A lever 41 is pivotally' mounted at 42 to the lower portion of the arm 2, engaging at one end a pin 43 secured to the block 26 and at the other end engaging a pin in the end of an arm secured to the top of a rock shaft 45. In order that the travel of the positioning devices (or the length of the stitch) may be varied, the pivot 42 is .mounted in a slot running lengthwise of the arm 2 and also in a slot in the lever d1 (see Fig. 6). These slots are not, however, shown as the adjust ments described are common and well known to those skilled in the art. Thus by adjust ing the pivot in said slots the leverage may be changed, the motion of the rock The'rock shaft 45 is mounted in bearings in the upright portion of the arm 2 and has at its lower end a bell-crank 16, the long arm of which is given a reciprocating motion by the cam 47 on the shaft 4i, a plan of which is shown in Fig. 8.. The short arm of the bell-crank is operatively connected to a lever 48 pivoted at 49 below the work table 1. The other end of the lever a8 is engaged between two lugs 50 on the slide 7. The pivot 19 is adjustable in a similar manner to the upper pivot l2 whereby the travel of the slide 7 may be made to correspond to the travel of the up per presser foot and connecting'parts.

The lower presser foot 21 is mounted to slide vertically in a block 51 supported by ways 52 in the slide 7. A spring 53 forces the presser foot 21 upward. and, unless prevented, against the fabric 15. The block 51 isheld toward theneedle or to the rig-ht in Fig. 1 by a spring 54 compressed by an arm 55 projecting from the slide 7. Depending from the table 1 is a part 56 '(Fig. i) which 1 affords a support for a screw 57 which carries a lever 58. One end of-tlns lever has av cam roll in engagement with a face cam path 59 of a. cam 60. The other end of the lever 58 is in contact with one of the sides of the block 51 whereby upon rotation of the cam 60, the undulation of the cam path 59 is transmitted to the block 51 as av reciprocating motion identical wlth the motion imparted to the presser foot 20 by the cam As the block 51 carries the presser foot 21 it is evident that the two presser feet will more in unison in both directions plane of the table 1.

It is desirable that the presser foot 21 be forced downward againstthe spring 53 and away from the fabric 15,-simultaneously in the with the lifting of the presser foot 20 from its fabric. To this end there is projecting from the presser foot 21 a pin 61 adapted to be engaged by a lever 62 pivoted at 63 to the part 56. The opposite end of this lever is operated through a cam roll in the cam path 63 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4c, to depress, at times, the presser foot 21.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the plates 9 and 11 are provided with certain lifting devices which will be described whereby these plates are, at suitable times, lifted to allow movement of the fabrics held between them. On a rod 64, supported by the depending part 56 and a like part 65, are pivoted two levers 66 and 67 which are oper ated through proper cam rolls engaged in the cam paths 69 and 68 in the cam 70 to lift the bars 8 and 10. It is desired that the plates 9 and 11 shall lift a predetermined distance each time irrespective of the positions from which they start. As shown in Fig. 1, the plate 9 is urged by the spring 12 to grip the fabric between itself and the upper surface of the slide 7, likewise the plate 11 tends to press the fabric upon the plate 9. The material to be operated upon will vary in thickness in different places, thereby leaving the plates at different heights above the work table. At' the time when the presser feet are to act to push the two fabrics against their respective shoulders 1 1 and 16 on said plates, it is necessary that the spring pressure of these plates be relieved but the plates should be lifted but slightly lest the action of the presser feet cause wrinkles in the fabric. This position is shown in Fig. 5 the lift given the plates being exaggerated that it may be observable. To this end there are provided two wedges 71 (Fig. interposed between the lower ends of the bars 8 and 10 and their levers 66 and- 67. Said wedges are pivoted to two bell-cranks 72which are pivoted in turn at 73 to suitable supports depending from the table 1. The horizontal arms of the bellcranks are acted upon by two flat springs 74 fixed to the table 1, normally tending to thrust the wedges 71 tothe left in Figi3 until further motion is prevented by the wedges contacting with their respective bars. Fig. 3 shows the cam rolls controlling the levers 66 and 67 on a slight rise 75 in the cam paths which, as the. wedges 71 are advanced, will lift the bars 8 and 10., and therefore the plates 9 and 11, a slight distance that the fabric may be adjusted. 'It will be observed that the rises in the cam path 68 areslightly greater than those of the path 69 which is necessary as the plate 11 controlled by the cam path 68 must be lifted enough to give clearance to the upper fabric the fabric, they must be allowed. to grip the material or to measure it, so that they may be lifteda proper distance from its surface which is slightly variable. For this purpose there is a short drop at 7 (Sin the cam paths 68 and 69 which will lower the working ends of the leve rs 66 and 67. At this tlme the wedges 71 are withdrawn by means of a pin 77 (see Fig. 5) in the end of a lever 78 pivoted at 79 to the table 1. A roll 80 mounted:

on the lever 78 is adapted to bear upon the surface of a cam 81 which at various times operates the pin 77, tliifigh the connections described, to contact with the short'arms of the levers 72 and thereby retract the wedges -71. The rise 82 on the cam 80 is timed to operate at the same time as the drop 75 on the cam '70 thereby retracting the wedges while the plates are lowered by the co-acting cams and under spring tension downward. The wedges 71 are immediately allowed to advance again by the cam '81 to the position shown in Fig. 5, which corresponds to the position shown in Fig. 3.

As the cam 70 continues its rotation with the arrow in Fig. 3, the long dwell in the to the plates 9 and 11, the wedges71 having been advanced at the start of this rise by a suitable drop on'the cam 81. At this time the presser feet and plates are moved from inline with the needle back to the position shown in Fig. 4, the fabric being held from retraction by the needle which is in the work at this time.

The operation of the embodiment of the invention now described may be briefly stated as follows :-The plates and presser feet move to the front of the machine, the presser feet position the work, and the plates and presser feetreturn to their first position where the stitch is formed. For eonvenience in giving a detailed description, the various movements Will be given serial numbers in the order of'the time of their occurrence in the cycle of this machine but it should be understood that some of the trarily. chosen and-in: all cases the given semovements extend during other movements and in some cases the eXacttime is imma terial and so the time given herein is arbiquence is capable of wide variation.

' v Assume that the needle 5 isabout to enter the fabric to form a stitch. The plates 9 and 11 are holding thework in the position to receive another stitch. .The cycle ofthe in which it has been placed by a previous The movements W111 cycle of the machine.

be described with reference to Fig. 1, that is;

looking at the front of the machine. First. Needle penetrateswork to form stitch. Second. Presser feet move to the left under the action of their respective cams 33 and 59. At the same time the presser feet are lifted from contact with the fabric by the cams 39 and 60. Third: The wedges'71 are allowed to moveto' operative position by the cam 81, as shown in F igs. 3 and 5. Fourth. The plates 9 and 11' are lifted by the rises 83 on the cam 70. Fifth. Theplatesand' presser feet move to the front of the machine by the connections described from the cam 47 and rock shaft 45 into line with the position of the next stitch to be formed.

The fabric is at this time held in fixedposition by the needle and the plates are separated to give clearance'to the work. Sixth. The plates are lowered at the point 76 on the cap, 70 and simultaneously the wedges 71 are withdrawn at the point 82 on the cam 81. The plates are now gripping the fabrics between each other and the upper surface of the slide 7 under the action of the springs 12. Seventh. The wedgesare immediately advanced to operative position and the plates lifted by the rise (5 on the cam 70.

As has been stated-5 this rise is comparatively slight, the object being to relieve the grip-' ping effect, of the springs 12 a suflicient amount to Low the fabric to. be moved between the i. tes but not enoughto permit the fabric to wrinkle. Eighth. The presser feet are spring-pressed against the fabrics,

the lifting action of the cams 60 and 39 having ended. -At about the same time the springs 29 and 54 are permitted to .act'by the cams 59 and 33 whereby 'the fabrics are forced to the right until further movement in this direction is prevented by the shoulders 14 and 16. The presser feet may remain in the'position defined by the-shoulders or they may slip over the fabric from this point, depending on the relative strengths of the springs and the nature of the fabric. Nmth. The plates-are again permitted .to grip the fabrics by'means of their operating cams and the withdrawal ofthe .wedges 71.

The needle has now completed its stitch and r is withdrawn from the work. needle now being 47 operates through its connections .to movev the plates toward the rear of the machine. This movement will of necessity advance the fabric into line with the needle in positioli' Tenth. The

n achine is 'now =-repea dclear of the work the cam I It is evident that this invention maybe i f embodied in various forms in which tacks, rivets, cement, stitches, or-other devices, may

be used as the securing means.- A few nations {tlGSllOWif in the drawings in whi a stitch forming mechanism is indicated-as the securing means. v 3 J Fig. 10 shows an isometric view of the essential parts of this invention adapted to join two pieces of cloth in a lap joint, as shown in Fig. 10". 'In this form there is a work' table 100 having a ledge 101 projecting slightly less than the thickness of the cloth. A plate 102, slotted at 103 for the passage of the needleand stitches, is'fixed.

to a bar 104: which is capable of vertical movement. An upper plate 105 fixed to a similar bar 106 overlies one end of the plate 102 and has one edge in vertical alinement with one side of a ledge 107.- Both plates are slotted at 108 for the passage of two presser feet 109. A needle 110,- operated in the usual manner in connection with stitch forming means, is adapted to .pass through the plates and secure together the fabric held between them. Fig. 10 is a section.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of the invention as used to join two fabrics by a tape overlaying the butted edges, known as a welted seam, which is shown in Fig. 11. In this arrangement there is a plate 112 carried on a bar 113 slotted for the reception of two presser'feet 114. A work table 115 has a very thin ledge116 adapted to engage one edge of each piece of fabric on each side thereof. Fig. 11 is a front view of Fig. 11 and shows the fabrics in engagement with said ledge, A double needle stitch forming device used, the two needles 117 being an equal distance each side of the ledge. Fig. 11, a section on the line of the ledgellt', shows the relation of the parts described.

,A suitable feeding device, indicated at 118, may be provided to advance the cloth. A tape or welt 'w is drawn from a source of supply through a slot 110 and secured to the two fabrics, as shown in the drawings. The vertical movement of the plate 112 and the action of the presser feet 11-l to position the fabrics against the ledge 110 will be evident without further description when taken in connection with the foregoing detailed do scription of the preferred form.

A third variation is shown for making a felled seam. This 15 done in two operations,

the first by means of the plates 120 and 121,

having gages or shoulders for the fabrics,

As is plain respectively, at 122 and 123. This form is identical with that described in the preferred form and similarly shown in Fig; 2,

with the exception that the shoulders 122'- and 123 are not in vertical alinement which will produce, when the work is spread, the

joint or seam shown in Fig. 12%

The fabric is presented in this condition to the action of a feller 124 attached to a resser foot bar 125. The lower surface 126 of the feller, shown in Fig. '12, (a section on the line 12" on Fig. 12 is actuated iii-the same manner as has been described with respect to the cloth engaging plates. A presser foot 127 engages the cloth from below .an(l feeds it at right angles to the line of the stitches until the shoulder formed by the seam, shown in Fig. 12, is engaged by the vertical wall 128. In this manner the position of the upper fabric is determined with respect to the lower and'the felling stitches are applied ata constant distance from the edge ofthe lower fabric. The feller, being old in the art, is not -described,.being assumed that the reader is familiar with its usual mode of operation.

With the aid of the drawings and descriptions of these three modifications and of the those forms described and others which the work to be performed may demand, the construction being limited only by the claims.

While there have been shown details of mechanical devices which have been found well adapted to carry the invention into effect, it is to be understood that said invention is not restricted or circumscribed thereby, being defined in the claims by intentionally broad language comprehensive of Various forms or embodiments of the invention.

lVhat is claimed as new, is: 1. A machine for fastening together sheets of material, having, in combination, means for inserting fastenings to fasten the sheets together, gages, means acting independently of the movement of the sheets past the fastener inserting means for feeding the sheets to bring their edges into engagement with the gages to place the sheets in fastener receiving positions, and means for preventing the sheets from wrinkling or hucklingns they are fed to the gages.

A machine for fastening together sheets of material, having, in combination, means for inserting fastenings to fasten the sheets together, means acting independently of the movement of the sheets past the fastener inserting means for feeding the sheets to bring their edges into predetermined relation as they are presented to the fastener inserting means, and means for preventing the sheets from wrinkling orbuckling as they are fed by the said feeding means.

3. A machine for inserting fastcnings in fastener inserting means, a gage for engagement with the edge of the sheet to 13081131011- the sheet relatively to said means, a presser foot for engagement with the face of the sheet, and means to move the presser foot both in the direction of and transverse to the line in which the sheet is fed past the fastener inserting means.

A sewing machine for stitching one or more sheets of material, having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, a gage for the edge of a sheet of material, means acting independently of the movement of the sheet past the stitch forming mechanism for feeding the sheet toward the edge gage, and means. for preventing the sheet from wrinkling or buckling as it is fed.

(5. A sewing machine for stitching together sheets of material, having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, gaging means for the edges of the sheets, sheet feeding means comprising devices acting independently of the feed fmove tnent of the WOlk past the stitch forming mechanism for maintaining the edges of the sheets in engagement with the gaging means as the sheets are fed, and means for preventing the sheets from wrinkling or buckling during their feed movement.

' 7 A sewing machine for stitching together sheets of material, having, in combination,

stitch forming mechanism means acting in-' dependently of the feed movement of the work past the stitch forming mechanism for positioning the edges of the sheets in a predetermined relation before they are presented to the stitch forming mechanism, and

means acting to prevent the wrinkling or buckling of the sheets as they are positioned.

S. A machine for inserting fastenings in a sheet of material, having, in combination,

a gage for'the edge of the sheet, plates for engagement. with the opposite faces of the sheet, means for feeding the sheet to bring its edge into engagement with the gage, and

means for separating the. plates to permit the sheet tohe fed by the said feedingmeans,

the plates acting to prevent the sheet from wrinkling or buckling as it is fed.

5). A machine for inserting fastenings in a sheet of material, having, in combination, fastener inserting means, a gage for the edge of the sheet, plates for, engagement with the opposite faces of the sheet, means for feeding the sheet to bring its edge into engagement with the gage, means forsep a rating the plates to permit the sheet to be fed by the said feeding means, the plates acting to prevent the sheet from wrinkling or buckling as it is fed, and means ,for moving one of the plates with the sheet as the sheet is fed past the fastener, inserting means.

10. A machine for inserting fastenings in a sheet of material, having, in combination,

fastener inserting means, a gage for the edge of the sheet, plates for engagement with the opposite faces of the sheet, means for feeding the sheet to bring its edge into engagement with the gage, means for separating the plates to permit the sheet to be fed by the said feeding means, the plates, acting to prevent the sheet from wrinkling or buckling as it is fed, means "acting to means acting to move the plates relatively a substantially uniform distance regardless of the thickness of the sheet to separate the plates and thereby permit the sheet to befed by the said feeding means, the plates acting to prevent the sheet from wrinkling or buckling as it is fed.

12. A machine for inserting fastenings in sheets of material, having, in combination, fastener inserting means, gages for the edges of the sheets, plates for engagement with the opposite faces of each sheet, means for feed; ing the sheets to bring their edges into engagement with the gages, and means for separating the plates to permit the sheets to be fed by the said feeding means, the plates acting to prevent the sheets from wrinkling or buckling as they are fed.

'ERASTUS E. WIN KIJEY.

Witnesses: r

\Valnnm G. OGDEN, Rn'rir A.- Smozvns. 

